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Bettye LaVette still collecting much praise and playing SXSW!

BETTYE LaVETTE has earned a high spot on the annual Village Voice “Pazz & Jop” poll, coming in at #20. In editor Robert Christgau’s essay on the poll, he states: “Bettye LaVette outdoes herself.”

Elsewhere, in a review of a Joni Mitchell tribute show at Carnegie Hall, Jon Pareles closed his review with this: “Bettye LaVette turned ‘Last Chance Lost,’ a terse and bitter breakup song, into an intense, wrenching soul lament that seemed to encompass a lifetime of disappointments. She made the song her own—no easy feat.”

Bettye’s music could even be heard on the pre-game telecast of the Superbowl, when Pittsburgh Steelers running back and fellow Detroit native Jerome Bettis was being interviewed. Her version of Lucinda Williams “Joy,” could be plainly heard with Bettye singing, “I started in Detroit looking for my joy…” – words which proved prophetic for Bettis and the Steelers.

LaVette continues to garner praise and gather new fans with each show she performs. She will be performing at SXSW at La Zona Rosa on March 17, has been added to the Jammies April 20 in New York City at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden, as well as the Bonaroo Festival June 16 in Manchester, TN.